Officer Aaron McNeely was vacationing with his wife in Las Vegas when he heard gunfire coming from the Route 91 Harvest music festival and immediately jumped into action.

Author:
Bernard Ellouk

Published:
6:44 PM PST January 26, 2018

Updated:
6:44 PM PST January 26, 2018

The Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs (WACOPS) awarded Officer Aaron McNeely with the Officer of the Year Award Friday.

Officer McNeely was given the award for his actions during the October 1, 2017, Las Vegas shooting, where a gunman killed 58 people and wounded 851 more.

Officer McNeely at the time was vacationing with his wife in Las Vegas, but was not attending the Route 91 Harvest music festival, where the shooting took place.

McNeely jumped into action upon hearing the gunfire.

"We could hear the shooting. I knew something was wrong, so I told my wife to hang out and took her phone as mine was dead and told her that I would talk to her in a little bit," said McNeely.

McNeely says he didn't think much before he ran to the scene to start helping victims of the shooting.

"The job is a lot more than a 9-5. It's more than just shift work. To me, this is a calling. I feel like most people in law enforcement have an innate desire to help people, and when that happened, mine went to go help," said McNeely.

"Officer McNeely's actions were brave, honorable, unselfish and saved lives. His actions that night are an example that every officer in this country should emulate. He ran to the sound of chaos, the sound of your fellow human beings in pain, agony, and suffering not knowing what was going to greet him. He put his life out there so that others may live to see another day," said WACOPS President Craig Bulkley.

McNeely was nominated for the honor by members of the WACOPS Executive Board.